Various Artists — Shoot And Crucify

Nearly forty years ago, when Cold Spring was just a wee pup of a label, their third tape was the compilation Shoot And Crucify. Limited to fifty copies, this release came out of the mail-art network and features young industrial and experimental artists who have since become legendary (genre-wise, at least) and influenced many over decades in the scene. This time capsule is an excellent look at a burgeoning scene and fledgling label, and also a testament to longevity and influence, as many of these acts are not only still releasing material today, but some are still working with Cold Spring Records.

Compiled by Rob Maycock and remastered by Martin Bowes, Shoot And Crucify wonderfully captures a vibrant and explosive time for the industrial/experimental/noise scenes, and this re-release is a godsend for those that weren't around to snag one of the fifty available copies in 1988. Many of the names will be familiar to fans of the genre (e.g,, Satori, Kapotte Muziek), while others are lesser-known projects of well-respected artists (e.g., Ethnic Acid (Anthony Di Franco of Ramleh), Well Crucial (Stewart Walden of Smell & Quim), numerous appearances by Dave Kirby & Rob Maycock). Collectively, this is an open-ended compilation to bring together acts with similar artistic ideals and creative pursuits, so the material varies a bit in style throughout, but one can easily pick up the underlying vibe and unity between each piece. Industrial/noise/experimental has come a long way in the past four decades, so while the material will understandably sound dated, its strength and influence are obvious and undeniable. After a long period, uncovered gems run the risk of sounding hokey and being mere scene curios for collectors' shelves, but Shoot And Crucify is still extremely engaging and worthy of many spins while all the sounds are blasted into the air to be absorbed by the listener. The old tape source gives the album a gauzy quality that makes the material sound almost ancient, but that adds to its character. Hitting play and hearing the squeaks, squeals, and buzzes beneath the dust and cobwebs is like firing up a long-dormant robot found leaning in the corner of an abandoned factory. These genres are usually based around making uncomfortable music, so it's interesting for this nostalgic feeling to bring about a sense of warmth and belonging. While many of us weren't part of the scene at this time (albeit very close), the familiarity on display helps keep Shoot And Crucify high-flying and on repeat.

Cold Spring has done a lot to proselytise some of the hardest genres to preach, and seeing that this was their third cassette, one can see that they've had not only conviction this whole time, but clearly had a handle on which acts would make the most impact. It's very hard for certain types of art to be timeless, as technology can make the most novel sound become quaint and powerless, but Shoot And Crucify manages to be effective still today, thirty-eight years later. While many of the artists have continued to grow, improve, and reach new audiences, some of the lesser-known players on this tape should know that their contributions are important and their influence is still inspiring to this day.